The 1990 Dodge Caravan has 4 safety recalls and 278 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (79 complaints).
Problem: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
NHTSA recall 91V053000 · Apr 10, 1991 · 640,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: INBOARD FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY STRAPS CAN SUFFER FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE STRAP NEAR ITS ANCHOR POSITION.
Risk: FATIGUE FAILURE OF SAFETY BELTS IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT CONDITION RESULTS IN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANT.
Fix: REPLACE FATIGUED STRAPS OR RETROFIT STRAPS WITH A REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND REMOVAL OF AN ANTIROTATION TAB TO PREVENT FATIGUE FAILURE.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Differential proportional valve
NHTSA recall 90V145000 · Aug 10, 1990 · 100 vehicles
Problem: INCORRECT SCREWS MAY HAVE BEEN USED IN INSTALLING THE LOAD SENSING BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO ITS BRACKET CAUSING THE CLAMPING LOAD TO BE LESS THAN INTENDED.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN INCONSISTENT FRONT TO REAR BRAKEBALANCE WITH POTENTIAL FOR REAR BRAKE SKID UNDER HEAVY BRAKING CONDITIONS.
Fix: REPLACE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO BRACKET SCREWS WITH PROPER LENGTH SCREWS.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
NHTSA recall 89V237000 · Dec 27, 1989 · 634,000 vehicles
Problem: THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Risk: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Fix: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Power train Automatic transmission; Axle assembly
79
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Hatchback/liftgate; Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut
Visibility Windshield; Power window devices and controls
9
2
1
0
—
Steering Steering wheel/handle bar; Hydraulic power assist › Pump
9
0
0
0
—
Exterior lighting Headlights › Switch; Headlights
6
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Apr 5, 2007 · 141,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO STOP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PUMP AT THE COST OF OVER $400. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 90V145000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE), BUT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR BEING VERBALLY ABUSIVE TO THE REPRESENTATIVE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,124.
Feb 16, 2007 · 87,534 milesPower train › Automatic transmission I STARTED NOTICING A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE 1 WEEK BEFORE THE FAILURE. IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS COLD AND ONLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A BAD U-JOINT. ON THE MORNING OF 2-16-07 8:15 AM I WAS TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. IT CHEWED UP ONE OF THE BEARINGS (WHICH A MECHANIC LATER TOLD ME WAS NOTORIOUS FOR GOING OUT) AND DROPPED THEM ALL OVER THE ROAD. I WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO WAY TO GO ANYWHERE, BLOCKING TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WAS ALSO UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH HAD AN INCLINE TO IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE DRIVETRAIN AND…
Aug 2, 2004Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM PULLED OVER AND STOPPED SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE STEAM COMING FROM THE MOTOR. IT WAS DAYLIGHT OUT DID NOT NOTICE THAT HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T WORK JUST THE RUNNING LIGHTS TILL A FEW HOURS LATER. AFTER HAVING HEATER ON HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT SMELL WHAT SEEMS LIKE WIRES BURNING AND THE SPEAKER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MAKES A CACKLING NOISE. OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE HIGHBEAM SWITCH TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON.*AK
Jul 9, 2003Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SMELL LIKE GAS.*AK
May 16, 2003Seat belts › Front THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELTS WERE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED FOR A PERSON 5'4". THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Feb 25, 2003 · 227,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine I OWN A 1990 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE MOTOR. ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK THE ACCELERATOR STUCK OPEN. I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE AND REMOVED THE AIR CLEANER COVER AND MAP SENSOR TO SEE WHAT WHY THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK OPEN. I FOUND A SQUARE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE TABLE WITH A HOLE IN THE TOP. I WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW IT GOT THERE SO I TOOK THE AIR CLEANER OUT AND FOUND THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION FILTER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CANISTER. THE BAD THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT I WAS ON ICY ROADS AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD CONTROL THE VEHICLE WAS TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND COAST INTO A DRIVEWAY. I ALSO REMEMBERED THIS HAPPENING TO THE 1991 PLYMOUTH GRAND…
Jan 1, 2000 · 140,000 milesPower train › Automatic transmission I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AT 48,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER, GLENN E. THOMAS DODGE IN SIGNAL HILL. THEREAFTER, EVERY 15,000 TO 25,000 MILES OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, PROBABLY 5 TIMES NOW; THE COMPUTER FOR THE TRANS HAS FAILED TWICE, THE MOTOR COMPUTER FAILED 2 TIMES, THE POWER WINDOWS BROKE OFF THEIR TRACKS, THE SLIDING DOOR JAMMED SHUT AND WOULDN'T ALIGN. NOW THE PAINT JOB ON MY WHITE 1990 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (WITH WOOD TRIM) IS PEELING OFF, MOSTLY ON THE ROOF (WHERE IT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE, DOWN TO THE PRIMER, RUSTING THROUGH TO THE ROOF METAL) AND ON THE HOOD AND FRONT QUARTER PANELS. THE PAINT WAS NOT PROPERLY APPLIED TO…
Dec 21, 2002Structure › Body PAINT ON 1990 DODGE CARAVAN IS PEELING OFF.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
PE95014 · opened Feb 23, 1995 · closed Jul 7, 1995REAR SEAT ANCHORAGES There is no summary currently available
EA94005 · opened Jan 31, 1994 · closed Oct 25, 1995LIFTGATE LATCHES LIFTGATE LATCHES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE FAILED IN LOW AND MODERATE SPEED IMPACTS RESULTING IN OCCUPANT EJECTIONS, INJURIES, AND FATALITIES.THERE ARE TWO FAILURE MODES ASSOCIATED WITH LATCH FAILURE: FORK BOLT-DETENT LEVER BYPASS, AND INERTIAL UNLATCHING.NHTSA ANALYSES OF CHRYSLER AND PEER MINIVANS TOOK THE FORM OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC CRASH TESTING, ENGINEERING EVALUATIONS, COMPLAINT AND FIELD ANALYSES, AND REAL WORLD DATA ANALYSES.A TECHNICAL REPORT DISCUSSING THESE ANALYSES CAN BE FOUND IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TECHNICAL REPORT IN THE PUBLIC VIEWING FILE.CHRYSLER HAS ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE LATCHES ON ALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE CHRYSLER CAMPAIGN WILL CONSIST OF NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL OWNERS; FREE REPLACEMENT OF ALL LATCHES WITH STRONGER, SAFER LATCHES REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF THE MINIVANS; NATIONAL ADVERTISING TO PROMOTE CUSTOMER…
PE92027 · opened Mar 10, 1992 · closed Jun 3, 1992R/HTCHBCK HYDR.CYLIN.FAILS There is no summary currently available
PE91062 · opened Mar 19, 1991 · closed Jul 31, 1991REAR WIPER SWITCH/FIRES There is no summary currently available
PE91026 · opened Jan 4, 1991 · closed May 1, 1991 · led to recall 91V053000SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE There is no summary currently available
EA91010 · opened Dec 10, 1990 · closed Dec 31, 1991TRANS PARK SYSTEM FAILURE There is no summary currently available